NRL GREG TRUSTS SIXTH SENSE
MELBOURNE’S Billy Slater has reminded Queensland State of Origin selectors of just what he offers with a scintillating performance in the Storm’s 40- 12 win over Newcastle.
A shock Maroons omission from Wednesday’s series opener, Slater played like he had a point to prove last night at AAMI Park, as the Storm extended their lead at the top of the NRL ladder while the Knights remained anchored at the bottom.
And they did it without skipper Cameron Smith, who was rested from the game after Queensland’s brutal Origin loss.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy said Smith was “cooked” but would return for their Thursday night clash with defending premiers Cronulla.
Slater pushed his case for an Origin recall for game two against NSW later this month with two second- half tries while he also had two earlier try assists. The 33- year- old fullback scored his first in the 43rd minute when he snaffled a Cooper Cronk kick and miraculously managed to get the ball down as he crashed over the line.
The second, 10 minutes later, was trademark Slater when he ran on to an inside ball from Cronk, sliced through the defence and stepped around Queensland winger Dane Gagai to score.
Slater overshadowed a double from winger Suliasi Vunivalu, both scored from kicks by a busy Cronk, who showed no ill effects from Origin. Cronk said he’d love Slater to be back in the Queensland side.
“From a personal point of view, he’s doing all the right things and you’d love for him to have the story of getting back to the level of playing Origin,” Cronk said.
“He cherishes the Maroon jersey.” THE last time club great Greg Alexander took a Penrith prodigy under his wing, Craig Gower and the Panthers went all the way to claim an unlikely NRL premiership.
Now, more than a decade after pulling the plug on his coaching career, the Penrith legend has again volunteered to hold a clipboard as he aims to guide their young halves to stardom.
In the same week coach Anthony Griffin opted to move Matt Moylan to five- eighth, Alexander donned the club colours and took to the training paddock with the captain and Nathan Cleary.
And he hasn’t shied away from predicting success for Moylan, admitting he can see similarities in Darren Lockyer’s famous move from fullback midway through his career.
“I can. If I say no, it’s diminishing what I think of Matt. Lockyer played fullback and moved to five- eighth and was successful. I think Matt can do the same thing,” Alexander said. “Most of the fullbacks have the skills to play fiveeighth. It’s just whether they can handle the frontline defence. I think Matt’s worked enough on his strength and his body shape.
“He’s much stronger than what he was a couple of years ago. I know he’s excited about it, so that’s the main thing. He’s certainly got the skills to make a great five- eighth.”
Alexander, who led the Panthers to their maiden premiership in 1991, revealed how he approached club boss Phil Gould to help Moylan and Cleary fulfil their potential.
Moylan has already played for Australia and NSW but is still relatively young at 25, while 19- year- old Cleary only made his first- grade debut at the same stage one season ago.
Despite living on the northern beaches, Alexander continues to play a significant role at the foot of the mountains as a deputy chairman, but wants to dip his toe again on the field.
“I spoke to Gus about it and I spoke to Anthony about it. It was just a general chat and something I wanted to do. I said I’d be happy to work with them,” he said.
“It’s nice to be back and involved with the on- field stuff. We’ll have a session or two a week and just work on making sure that both of them feel comfortable in any situation.
“It’s been 10 years since I’ve done anything. When I first retired, I did those first five or six years with Craig Gower, basically, and our wingers Luke Rooney and Luke Lewis.”